Caging mechanism for gyros



Nov., 6, 1956 J. c. GQNGWER 2,769,343

CAGING MECHANISM FOR GYROS Filed July 23, 1953 l i i! 1 I mum",

'Illlnl' INVENTOR.

A r TOR/YE Y5.

United States Patent CAGING MECHANISM FOR GYROS James C. Gongwer, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 23, 1953, Serial No. 369,973

2 Claims. (Cl. 74-5.12)

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to gyroscopic devices, and more particularly to apparatus for caging and unlocking a twogimbal free gyroscope.

The invention is hereinafter described with special reference to a gyro designed for use in a marine torpedo, but it will be understoood that it may be used with other types of gyros.

Marine torpedoes are usually guided in their course by gyroscopic mechanism. In testing such mechanism, it is frequently desirable to direct a dummy torpedo at a target, record the result, recover the torpedo, and again direct it at the target. In this operation, it is desirable that the gyro be automatically caged at the end of each run so that it will be in condition for the next run, thus avoiding the necessity for opening the torpedo tube to position the gyro manually.

An object of the invention is to provide simplified apparatus for caging a gyro.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description.

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical elevation of gyroscopic apparatus embodying the invention, showing the same in the uncaged position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the gyro in caged position.

The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a pedestal in which an outer gimbal 12 is mounted for rotation about what may for convenience be designated a vertical axis. An inner gimbal 14 is mounted within the outer gimbal for rotation about a horizontal axis, and the gyro rotor 16 is mounted in trunnions indicated at 18 for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the inner gimbal. The structure thus far described is conventional in two-gimba1 free gyros.

Fixed to the inner gimbal 14 to rotate therewith is a crank 20 which, in the fully caged position of the gyro, extends vertically downward. At the lower end of the crank 20 is an anti-friction bearing in the form of a small roller 22. Positioned above the gyro is a cam member 24 in the form of a hollow cylinder which is movable vertically upwardly by means of a piston 26 secured thereto by means of a non-circular piston rod 28 fixed to the closed upper end 30 of the cam member. The piston 26 is reciprocable in a fixed cylinder 32, being movable upwardly by compressed air introduced through a conduit 34 and downwardly by a compression spring 36 bearing against the cylinder 32 and the end 30 of the cam member 24.

The conduit 34 is supplied with compressed air from a source 40, and is controlled by a valve 42. Source 40 is preferably also the source of compressed air for the torpedo motor, not shown. The rotor 16 of the gyro may be rotated by compressed air supplied from source 40 and conducted through a conduit 44 to a nozzle 46 which discharges against vanes 48 on the rotor. The conduit 44 is controlled by a valve 50 which is energized by any suitable automatic means 51. Valve 50 has a time-lag 2 connection, indicated diagrammatically by the valve member 52, with valve 42, whereby valve 42 will be opened at such time interval after valve 56) is opened that the rotor 16 will be up to the normal speed before the cylindrical cam 24 is raised. The position of the cOnnection indicated at 54 in Fig. 1 corresponds to a position in which both valves have reached open position, and the position indicated at 56 a position wherein valve 56 is closed and valve 42 open.

In the operation of the device, let it be assumed that the parts are in the positions indicated in Fig. 2, in which the gyro is fully caged and is held in caged position by the engagement of the cam surface 60 of member 24 with the roller 22. Upon launching of the torpedo, the valve 50 will be automatically opened, by suitable known means, permitting flow of compressed air to nozzle 46. When, after a predetermined time interval, the rotor 16 has been brought up to speed, valve 42 will be opened by the movement of member 52 to position 54, admitting compressed air to cylinder 32 and raising cam member 24 to release the gyro, which thereafter acts in known manner to control the course of the torpedo. The member 52 may then be moved to position 56, wherein valve 42 remains open to maintain member 24 in its upper or releasing position, while valve 50 is closed, the gyro being driven by other means, not shown, from then on.

At the end of the run, the pressure in source 40 has been exhausted, and spring 36 will force cam surface 60 into contact with roller 22. If it be assumed that the gimbal 12 is by now turned end-for-end relative to its caged position and that gimbal 14 is in some non-horizontal position, both as indicated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that cam surface 60 will exert two torques tending to bring the gimbals to the position shown in Fig. 2; it will by its weight tend to move roller 22 to its lowermost position, and the cam action of surface 60 will rotate the assembly about a vertical axis until the caged position indicated in Fig. 2 has been reached.

It will be obvious that the device may also be used for caging and then releasing the gyro at the beginning of a live run.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a gyroscope having a first gimbal mounted for rotation on a first 3X18, a second gimbal mounted in the first gimbal for rotation on a second axis normal to the first axis, and a rotor mounted in the second gimbal for spinning on an axis normal to said second axis, caging and releasing mechanism comprising a crank fixed to the second gimbal and normally extending parallel to and spaced from said first axis, and a cam in the form of a truncated hollow cylinder movable generally along said first axis with its truncated edge movable into contact with said crank to exert rotative and camming torques upon said gimbals.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, comprising in addition a supply of pressure fluid, means energized by said fluid for spinning said rotor and for moving said cam to and from operative position relative to said crank, and valve mechanism for energizing said means in predetermined sequence.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,291 Leavitt Aug. 23, 1904 1,996,896 Bennett Apr. 9, 1935 2,273,309 Zand Feb. 17, 1942 2,415,899 Meyer et al. Feb. 18, 1947 

